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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Don’t know how to leave my controlling partner

8 replies

monica19 · 04/05/2019 20:54

I really need some advice or help as I can’t seem to come to a conclusion myself on what to do next, I feel so stuck, trapped and suffocated in my relationship. I’ve been in a relationship with my daughter’s father for 5 years. She will be 3 soon. Ever since we had a baby he became a lot more controlling. Initially before we had her he would tell me what I could or could not wear, would tell me to change my clothes if he didn’t like it (he still does this now) he would get angry if I spoke to any other guy whether it was a colleague or friend. Would also dictate who I should speak to or spend my time with and what I can share with my friends and family to the point that I literally have not seen any of my friends in about 2 years. When I was pregnant he didn’t want me to tell anyone until a certain point and didn’t allow me to decide that for myself. He wouldn’t let me post any photos of me being pregnant as apparently it’s our journey and no one else’s and didn’t care what I had to say. When my daughter was born I was so ecstatic I wanted to message my friends but he wouldn’t let me. Then the real hell began. He started timing when I breastfed, telling me when my daughter had, had enough and scolding me consistently for nearly 6 months on how I breastfeed too much and that he knows better. He only stopped when I told him to do so and stood up for myself. But he made sure to make me feel bad about it. He also wanted to know everywhere we went, my daughter and I and didn’t want me posting any photos of her or sharing photos of her with family or friends. Didn’t want anyone holding the baby and constantly questioned everything I did. His excuse was it was his way of being involved and making sure he’s a part of our life. To this day he still does all of this and more, constantly disagreeing with me on how to parent as apparently I’m too loving and too soft. He believes in harsh discipline and now my daughter is getting older and having tantrums as young children do he literally gets so angry every time she cries and tells her repeatedly to stop crying rather than comforting or trying to emphasise with her. He blows up all the time about minuscule random things and I feel like I’m constantly on egg shells. He has no idea how to look after our daughter and when he does watch her his priority is not to feed her but be on his phone most of the time. There’s so much more to this but I just don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t trust him with our daughter even though he always says he has her best interest at heart but if we split up he’s adamant he will have her every weekend. I want what’s best for our daughter which is to have a relationship with her dad but not at the cost of me being in a controlling relationship.

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 04/05/2019 21:40

You will be hard pressed to stop him having contact if you split, but I would say for your mental health, you need to split up. Ensure you’re safe and start making plans to go.

JK1773 · 04/05/2019 21:46

I agree. This is very damaging for you and your little one. He sounds awful and you need to make plans to separate. I expect he won’t be easy to get rid of either. I’m glad you can see this is abusive

FlyingSpaghettiM0nster · 04/05/2019 21:50

Do you have support irl? Talk to your family and friends. Are you married? That will have an impact. There is no way he will get every weekend. EOW and one night in the week is standard but with your baby being so young still it will probably start at much less than that and then ramp up as the baby gets older. The every weekend thing is probably an empty threat anyway to stop you from leaving.

Thatnovembernight · 04/05/2019 21:50

I don’t know what advice to give you specifically but in terms of validation I think this is actually one of the worst things I have read on here. This level of control and isolation is chilling. Really the only way to split up with someone is to just do it. The how and when will depend on your specific circumstances (rent or mortgage, savings, employment, if you can go to say a parent to stay for a while etc). I’d definitely seek any advice you can - solicitor, GP, women’s aid - anything. No one should be living like this. X

1WayOrAnother · 04/05/2019 21:56

You must leave this man. He will be a role model for your child, you're showing your daughter what you think a relationship should be like. Get support from family friends or women's aid and get out. Anything that happens next pales into comparison next to staying in this relationship. Good luck OP.

monica19 · 04/05/2019 21:57

We are not married thankfully as I know with his already controlling nature if we were to split up he would do everything he could to garner any control he could and that would mainly be reflected in my daughter and his need to be involved. I understand the importance of him being in her life as I never had a relationship with my dad and would not take that away from him or her but his overly controlling and angry nature scares me as he already loses it all the time with her and she’s only 2.5 years old. He doesn’t empathise with her ever and believes she should act a certain way which is following rules and not crying and being well behaved all the time. I feel his control is now also being passed on to her. He won’t let her celebrate or dress up for Halloween as he doesn’t believe in it due to being Christian whereas I’m not and I’m happy for her to just be a child but apparently I have no say. He also wants her to go church every Sunday and pray with him despite only being 2! I understand he’s religious but we are not and I feel I should have a say on how we raise our daughter too considering I am her mother. I feel so anxious if we split up he will do everything in his power to control me and our child much worse than now..

OP posts:
FlyingSpaghettiM0nster · 04/05/2019 22:02

As for practical advice, talk to your family or a trusted friend. Start stashing important documents with them, passport etc. Make sure your wages are paid into your own account. See if anyone you know can house you and DD temporarily while you sort something more permanent out. If you can afford it, start getting the ball rolling for getting a private rent.

I'm sure this sort of controlling behaviour is actually illegal. Consider going to the police and really emphasise how scared you are of this man. They may be able to help remove him from your home if that's the road you want to go down.

Keep posting here. I'm sure someone will come along who can really help you figure out how to do this.

Missingstreetlife · 04/05/2019 22:02

Get legal advice too, this is abuse, you may get legal aid.
Get health visitor on side, limiting child's food very worrying.
You need to plan your exit secretly or go to women's aid.
Hide this thread, make your escape as soon as you can. Go well.

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